The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is an independent regulatory agency with authority over ocean transportation to and from the United States. They have oversight over marine terminal operators, ocean transportation intermediaries (freight forwarders in our parlance), passenger vessel operators, and both vessel operating common carriers (VOCCs) and non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) who consolidate freight for tender to the vessel operators. All are required to be licensed by the FMC and most are required to be bonded.

In response to an increasing number of a variety of consumer complaints from household goods shippers (many generated from Internet entities), the FMC has announced a Fact Finding Investigation to determine the extent of the problem and the measures that will be required to address the situation and better protect the shipping public.